10 Symptoms of Mental Depression

Depression affects the brain and is much bigger than ‘not feeling good’. It is a real illness that is caused due to alterations in a person’s brain. The cases of depression have become very common these days and it is a serious illness which is among those mental problems that need attention to ensure overall mental health in India. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported depression as being among one of the most disabling diseases in the world.

Cause behind depression

Depression falls under the category of brain disorders, but there has always been an on-going debate about its exact causes. There are some factors can contribute to an initial phase of depression. These factors can be hormonal, genetic, due to specific medical conditions, etc. Apart from this, a person can feel mentally depressed due other factors as well, like grief, stress, or some dire life situations.

All of these factors have the ability to interfere with brain chemistry and can impart certain changes to it, which can then trigger symptoms of mental depression. It is important to discuss the causes behind mental depression as well as its symptoms, so that you can help yourself or someone close recognise depression. Some of these may even come as a surprise to you. It should not be taken lightly when it comes to mental health in India and one must visit a mental hospital in case they notice such symptoms.

Symptoms of depression

Depression does not discriminate and can happen to men and women of any economic and social background, regardless of their age or level of education. One should look out for these symptoms to identify depression and get timely help:

No sleep at night

People facing depression cannot sleep at night. They lie awake during the night, getting little or no sleep. On the other hand, it is also said that people suffering from depression can sleep for prolonged periods of time during the day, unwilling to get out of bed.

Changes in appetite

Overeating is a common phenomenon when a person feels anxious or depressed. But, if a person is going through severe depression, an opposite pattern is observed. This happens because the person going through depression is no longer interested in being well physically. In addition to this, another thing that one may observe in a depressed person is not paying attention to personal hygiene.

No longer drawn towards favourite activities

Hobbies reenergise the mind every time one feels blue. But, people going through a depressed phase no longer feel drawn towards their hobbies. So, if there are signs that a person is no longer showing an interest in their hobbies, it could be a symptom of depression.

Irritation and impatience

A person in depression will feel irritated and impatient rather than feeling unhappy. It would be better to book a consultation at a mental hospital to help deal with depression if such symptoms start to crop up.

Being extremely energetic

If a depressed person has decided to do something drastic, like, for instance, killing themselves, they would seem to be more energetic in contrast to being slow and lackadaisical. The increase in energy is owing to the fact that they think they have established a resolution and hence, they feel relieved. If such a switch is observed, one should be very concerned.

Emergence of a darker side

A person battling severe depression starts to preoccupy their mind with death and other gloomy subjects. The personal will always talk in certain ways, for instance, “after I am gone”. This person will also be more than willing take risks that lack forethought.

Physical changes

A depressed person can go through a lot of physical changes. These can include weight loss, weight gain, pains and aches without any reason, sexual problems, lack of energy, tiredness, improper sleeping patterns, appetite changes, etc.

Behavioural changes

A person with depression shows a lot of behaviour changes, like substance abuse, attempts to self- harm, missing school, work, and various other commitments, withdrawal from other people, and so on.

Change in thought process

A depressed person can have trouble in doing a lot of things. He or she might have trouble in concentrating, decision-making, remembering, etc. There might even be cases of people having hallucinations or delusions in cases of severe depression.

Types of feelings

The feelings that a depressed person may have most are of sadness, guilt, angry outbursts, moodiness, hopelessness, losing interest in family and friends, etc. Plus, he or she might no longer be drawn towards sex.

So, if a person has the above-mentioned symptoms, he or she should get their depression treated. According to a person’s symptoms and characteristics, a trained professional can help them out by suggesting the right mental illness treatment sessions on an interpersonal level. These sessions rely upon on one or more kind of psychotherapy treatments that are employed by a healthcare professional. So, it is crucial to approach mental health doctors in a mental hospital.

Clinicians may also recommend the patient to try out various types of medication for mental health care. Some other things that help in managing the symptoms of depression are stress reduction, partaking in physical activities, lifestyle changes, improving your eating and sleeping habits, etc. Identifying symptoms of depression is crucial and getting timely treatment in a mental hospital or a hospital that has the facilities to cure depression is important. Depression is among those mental problems that are reporting an increased number of cases every day and should be taken seriously to ensure mental health in India.